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2019
FESTIVAL
Tour Director Christian Co ey SPECIAL
On Bringing Fest Headliner Childish
Gambino’s Creative Vision To Life
By Sarah Piman
hildish Gambino is one of the most
in-demand festival headliners of 2019,
Cwith appearances including Coachella,
Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Outside Lands.
But before even agreeing to play the festi-
vals, the creative genius otherwise known as
musician/actor/director/producer/comedian
Donald Glover had to talk to his team about
the reason for taking the stage.
“He’s not doing something just for money or
exposure,” says tour director Christian Coey,
who also works with artists including Run The
Jewels and A$AP Rocky.
“It’s about only doing something if there’s
a purpose, if there’s something to say and if
it’s creating that moment. So prior to even
confirming Coachella or any other festival
there was a discussion of what is that moment
or what am I saying? ... If there’s not a truth
behind it, then it doesn’t need to exist.”
Coey humbly explains that the actual cre-
ative behind the tour’s production design comes
from Glover’s vision and collaboration with Greg Noire
his managers, Wolf & Rothstein (along with
Moment Factory for the “This Is America” tour)
and when they have ideas, he’s there to “help pounds each and housing ROE 8mm LED tiles you’re there for an experience. It’s about living
execute that vision and bring it to life for them.” across three sides, as well as 24 MegaPointe in the moment, it’s about having a connection,
With Coey handling oversight and logis- lights, lasers and foggers on the other. The not just living behind a screen for your
tics, he makes sure everything runs on time, blades, which were covered in lexan, were Instagram followers.”
overseeing the tour’s budget, hiring and firing fully automated, turning and moving across While “This Is America” was not your stan-
crew, and working with the tour’s partners and the stage with a customized system built by dard arena show, it is still an arena show and
vendors. All Access. Childish Gambino chose to play to that rather
“[Donald’s] one of the hardest working and The tour – which Glover has said is the final than hide it. One of the elements of the tour
most talented human beings you’ll ever meet run for his musical alter-ego – also included is having Glover “walk through the guts of the
in your life,” Coey says. “He makes you want some additional 300 lightning fixtures outside arena” with cameras following him o stage
to work harder and be beer … knowing that of the walls, along with a 6-piece band, 4-per- and even exposing the empty seats behind the
you have someone who is going to continue son choir and backup dancers. stage instead of covering them with drape.
to push the envelope and they’re going to “As cool as the production is, the show is “It’s about making it real and leing people
challenge themselves to be beer and you to Gambino,” Coey says. “Every element of the have those connections with each other and
be beer in only the most positive and rein- production is just to enhance and support that connection with the artist,” Coey says.
forcing ways. You come to work excited for him. It’s not so that people are looking past “So even if he is this musical star, he’s just a
that challenge and when you figure out how him, staring at an LED wall or staring at fire or guy up there performing. ... He goes through
to make things work that are typically outside cryo [eects] or a trick that is masking him. He the same stu that everyone goes through. Ev-
the box, it keeps you excited to be a part of the is a talent unto himself and that is the show.” erybody goes through pain and happiness and
team with him and Wolf & Rothstein.” A review of his September Madison Square heartache and death or sickness or whatever
For “This Is America Tour,” which began Garden performance by Variety noted the it is. No one is immune to those pieces of life.
in September and ran through late March, spareness of the set, which featured Gambi- He’s just trying to say we’re in that together.”
Clair Global provided audio; LMG provided no singing, rapping and crooning in falseo, Asked how Gambino and his team will
lighting, video and cameras; SGPS did the while showing o his signature dance moves: adapt his “This Is America” arena show to
rigging, All Access Staging & Production han- “It’s a testament to his talent and magnetism festival stages, Coey says audiences can
dled automation, and Pyrotechnico provided that he can not only carry but dazzle through- expect a whole new production. Of course, he
all of the lasers and special eects. Other out a 90-minute concert, on a giant arena couldn’t spill any secrets.
partners included Lucid, Brain Box, Nite Train stage, mostly by himself (shirtless, no less).” “It’s going to be a really unique production,”
Coaches, Senators Coaches, On Tour Trucking, Glover encourages fans to put their phones Coey says. “We’re trying to, again, create an
Latitude 45, NPB & Stack Security. down and experience the evening together. experience for people. We’re trying to create
The centerpiece of the tour’s production As Coey says, “He believes that it is church. a moment for people and something that
was two “blades” that were 28 feet tall, 10 feet If you’re there just to hear your favorite songs, they won't necessarily have seen at any other
wide and 2 feet deep, weighing roughly 7,000 you should go home and do that. Because festival.” s
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